Confused by the new New Year's Day holiday schedule for 2026.
With the new 2026 New Year's Day holiday extended to four consecutive days, many families are still confused as the official holiday schedule is only announced close to the holiday date.
The deadline was set late, putting the plan in a difficult position.
According to the plan to swap Friday (January 2, 2026) to Saturday (January 10, 2026) of the following week, the 2026 New Year's Day holiday will last from January 1, 2026 to January 4, 2026. This proposal from the Ministry of Interior has been approved by the Government, but the announcement on the morning of December 25 disrupted many previous plans.
With the Lunar New Year approaching, many people are forced to reconsider their plans, shifting from intending to travel far to taking a short break or staying home.
Immediately after the four-day holiday was confirmed, travel forums and community groups quickly buzzed with questions about where to go, how to get there, and how much it would cost. However, having only about a week to prepare left many families feeling unprepared.
Initially, families decided the holiday would only last one day, so they didn't plan any trips. When the four-day holiday was announced, there was almost no time left to arrange work and book services, forcing them to postpone their travel plans and prioritize saving for the longer Lunar New Year holiday.
For families planning a trip by plane, after receiving information about the 4-day holiday, but upon reviewing costs, airfares for flights during the holiday period have increased significantly. The total cost of round-trip tickets for 4 people could reach 14-15 million VND, not including accommodation and living expenses.
If you choose to fly in the afternoon or evening to reduce costs, you'll almost certainly lose your entire first day, significantly shortening your vacation time. With the Lunar New Year approaching and many major expenses approaching, many families are opting for a relaxing getaway instead of a long trip.
Short-term travel is on the rise, and international tours remain popular.
Contrary to the cautious attitude of many independent travelers, travel businesses are seeing positive signs in several segments. The domestic group tour market is relatively quiet, but short-term international tours and personalized travel packages are experiencing significant growth.
According to a representative from BenThanh Tourist, the number of customers booking tours for the New Year holiday increased by approximately 15% compared to the same period last year. Many tours to Thailand, China, Taiwan, Japan, and South Korea were fully booked early. Vietluxtour also recorded a 15-20% increase in purchasing power, mainly among small families and overseas Vietnamese returning home for tourism.
Combo tours including flights and hotels, and customized tours for family groups, are popular choices due to the optimized preparation time, especially given the late announcement of holiday schedules.
Airfares aren't too expensive, and the trend of traveling to nearby destinations is prevailing.
The aviation market during the 2026 New Year holiday is considered relatively "easygoing". Destinations with flight times under 1 hour and 30 minutes, such as Phu Quoc, Da Lat, Cam Ranh, and Da Nang, continue to lead in search volume thanks to frequent flights and well-developed tourism infrastructure.
A representative from an airline said that there are still plenty of tickets available, and demand is evenly distributed across many time slots, so it is not putting significant pressure on prices. Most passengers choose to fly on the morning of January 1st and return on January 3rd or 4th to be able to get back to work on time.
From Ho Chi Minh City, round-trip airfare to Da Nang with VietJet Air starts from only 1.37 million VND, while Vietnam Airlines offers fares around 2.08 million VND. The Ho Chi Minh City - Phu Quoc route ranges from 1.6 to 2.5 million VND depending on the airline.
Conversely, longer routes from Hanoi to southern tourist destinations tend to have higher prices. Round-trip tickets from Hanoi to Phu Quoc with Vietnam Airlines are commonly priced at 6-7.3 million VND, while Vietjet offers them at around 6-6.5 million VND, with a 15-20% difference between daytime and nighttime flights.
Road travel and self-driving cars are making a comeback.
Alongside air travel, tourism by coach, private car, and self-driving vehicles recorded a slight increase, thanks to the increasingly improved highway network. The Ho Chi Minh City - Da Lat route continues to be a popular choice, with sleeper bus tickets costing from 300,000 to 450,000 VND/one way, and limousine tickets from 450,000 to 600,000 VND/one way.
Overnight buses are preferred because they save travel time, allowing tourists to start their vacation the very next morning. On routes from Ho Chi Minh City to Nha Trang and Quy Nhon, sleeper bus tickets range from 250,000 to 500,000 VND, while limousine tickets can cost up to 700,000 VND per way. The shorter route from Ho Chi Minh City to Phan Thiet has the most affordable prices, ranging from 150,000 to 300,000 VND.
The self-drive car rental market in Ho Chi Minh City has not seen significant fluctuations. Standard 4-seater cars cost around 500,000 - 700,000 VND/day, while 7-seater cars range from 900,000 - 1.2 million VND/day. Some newer SUV models or rentals on January 1st may see an additional 10-20% increase.
The 4-day New Year's Day holiday in 2026 is considered convenient in terms of timing, but the late announcement has left many families confused. Caught between cost considerations, limited time, and the pressure of the upcoming Lunar New Year, the trend of taking short breaks, traveling nearby, or staying home is becoming the safer choice for many.
